Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations
Make a sustaining gift today to support local journalism!

Mt. Washington Tied for Second Coldest Place on Earth

Mount Washington Observatory

The Mount Washington Observatory reported early Saturday that the summit tied for second-coldest place on earth, at a brisk -36 degrees Fahrenheit.

It was just 2 degrees from the coldest locations, Yakutsk, Russia, and Eureka, Nunavut, which recorded -38, according to the weather observer.

At 6,288 feet, Mount Washington is "home of the world's worst weather," as it is celebrated by the observatory, a non-profit organization.

Observers recorded a 231 mph wind gust, arecord that held until Typhoon Olivia at an unmanned instrumentstation in Australia in 1996.

Along with the deep freeze Saturday, the Mount Washington Observatory reported wind gusts of 92 mph.

Credit Mount Washington Observatory image
Temperature profile, Mount Washington Observatory, mid-Saturday morning.

Its summit forecast mid-morning Saturday was a high in the mid-20s below, and a wind chill factor of 70-80 below, and potential for wind gusts up to 105 mph.

On Dec. 28, the observatory recorded a temperature of -34, which was a daily record for that date. The all-time record was -47, set in 1934.

Related Content

You make NHPR possible.

NHPR is nonprofit and independent. We rely on readers like you to support the local, national, and international coverage on this website. Your support makes this news available to everyone.

Give today. A monthly donation of $5 makes a real difference.